Deck Building FAQ

About $30 to $60 per square foot; complete decks usually $4,000 to $15,000 or more with footings, framing, decking, and railing. See Custom Deck Building.

Higher end of that range — most complete Trex or TimberTech decks run about $8,000 to $20,000 or more. See Composite Decks.

Most repairs run about $500 to $3,000 depending on boards, framing, footings, or railing. See Deck Repair.

Staining and sealing about $500 to $1,500; railing about $1,500 to $6,000 installed. See Staining & Sealing and Railing & Stairs.

Wood is cheaper up front but needs staining every two to three years; composite resists rot and fading with almost no upkeep. See Composite Decks.

Typically a 25 to 50 year warranty and 25 to 30+ years of real-world life with almost no maintenance.

Yes — most attached and elevated decks need a building permit and inspections. A licensed builder handles it and builds to code.

Guardrail above 30 inches, about 36 inches tall, with infill a 4-inch sphere cannot pass; stairs need graspable handrails. See Railing & Stairs.

Most building is spring through fall, but framing and footings can continue into winter when conditions allow. Booking over winter beats the spring rush.

Sound framing and footings mean repair; a rotted ledger, joists, or footings usually mean a rebuild for safety and value. See Deck Repair.